RfCA Child Nutrition Research Talks

Come and join us for FREE public talks by Canterbury researchers on improving children's health.

The Research for Children Aotearoa Child Nutrition Research Talks feature three researchers who will share their research across critical areas of health topics for children.

Light refreshments will be served.

We hope you join us on the night!

Learn more about our researchers here:

"The M&M Trial: Using Micronutrients and Mindfulness to support Emotion Regulation in Kiwi Kids"

Alix is a PhD candidate in psychology at the University of Canterbury, based in Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab. Her research explores how micronutrients and mindfulness, both individually and together, may help children aged 6 to 10 regulate their emotions more effectively. By looking not only at wellbeing outcomes but also biological markers, Alix hopes to shed light on the connections between nutrition, mindfulness, mental health, and child development. 

"Food, Identity, and Illness: Navigating Eating With a Chronic Condition"

Dr Stephanie Brown is a Paediatric Gastroenterology Dietitian at Christchurch Hospital and a Research Fellow in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Otago, Christchurch. Her research focuses on how nutrition and diet impact children living with chronic gastrointestinal conditions, with recent work examining inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and food-related quality of life.

“Supporting Metabolic Health of Children in Aotearoa”

Dr Mercedes Burnside is a Paediatric Endocrinologist based in Christchurch. She completed her medical and paediatric training in Christchurch before undertaking a PhD at the University of Otago, where her research focused on diabetes technology. Following this, she completed subspecialty training in Paediatric Endocrinology at Perth Children’s Hospital and returned to Christchurch in early 2025. Her clinical and research interests centre on diabetes, obesity, and metabolic health in children and young people.

Want to know more about Research for Children Aotearoa? Click HERE

NOTE: THIS IS AN IN PERSON ONLY, THERE WILL BE NO VIRTUAL ACCESS OR RECORDING OF THIS EVENT.